House of Commons

Yesterday afternoon, the Speaker John Bercow informed the House of Commons that the Queen had given her Royal Assent to the EU Withdrawal Bill, meaning it now becomes an Act of Parliament.

The legislation enables EU law to be transferred into UK law in an attempt to ensure a smooth Brexit.

The Act sparked some of the fiercest debates between politicians in recent decades and led to parliamentary ping pong between the Commons and Lords.

Also called the Great Repeal Bill, especially by the Prime Minister Theresa May, it will see around 12,000 pieces of EU regulations and transfer them into UK law, so they can be scrapped as and when the politicians decide.

The legislation was first introduced into parliament in July 2017 and was analysed line-by-line in both houses. The Lords considered it for over 100 hours.

The Lords made 15 changes to the legislation, which included a ‘meaningful vote’ in parliament on the final deal, which would have undermined the Prime Minister’s negotiating position.

Theresa May however, saw off a successful rebellion led by Tory Rebel Dominic Grieve in the House of Commons, which led to a defeat on the ‘meaningful vote’ amendment.

Dominic Grieve was the leader of the Tory rebels, who backed down last week on the ‘meaningful vote’ amendment.

In the final reckoning the House of Commons spent 112 hours and 33 minutes considering the Act and the House of Lords clocked up 160 hours and 40 minutes.

Once it was announced that the Queen had given her Royal Assent to the Bill, Tory MPs cheered as it now allows the UK to move on and deliver the Brexit the British people voted for.

David Davis has hailed the Royal Assent as a ‘landmark moment’ in the Brexit process.

The government said that in the coming weeks it would begin using the powers in the new law.

Brexit Secretary David Davis said it was a “landmark moment” in the Brexit process.

“We will now begin the work of preparing our statute book, using the provisions in this Act, to ensure we are ready for any scenario, giving people and businesses the certainty they need.”

Last week MPs overturned most of the 15 amendments which the Lords slapped on to the EU Withdrawal Bill, and some were tweaked into a compromise.

Brexit should begin a British renaissance that starts with the abolition of the House of Lords – I will present a Bill on Tuesday that seeks to replace the Lords with a new senate https://t.co/W6JSjU8aAB via @Telegraph

Today Lords will try to change the bill yet again on workers’ rights, the Charter of Fundamental Human Rights, and crucially, a “meaningful vote”.

Ministers have so far agreed to give parliament a symbolic vote on the government’s strategy if its initial exit deal is rejected, but not to give lawmakers the power to force changes to its plan.

Speaking before the vote, foreign minister Boris Johnson reinforced the government’s view that discussion of the meaningful vote was hypothetical as ministers were confident of getting a deal with Brussels that parliament will approve.

Boris at the FCO party tonight: “Do you realise, there are more members of the House of Lords than there are Bengal tigers? Perhaps we could help the Bengal tigers by feeding them members of the House of Lords; and their amendments.” LOL.